diff --git a/.github/workflows/stale.yml b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
index 82738ddc4e..ed0d54c885 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stale.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
@@ -13,9 +13,11 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/stale@5bef64f19d7facfb25b37b414482c7164d639639 # v9
       with:
         repo-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-        stale-issue-message: "This issue has been open without changes for a long time! What's up?"
+        stale-issue-message: "This issue hasn't had activity in a while. If you're working on it, please leave a quick update to keep it active. If you'd like to pick it up, comment and a maintainer will assign you."
         stale-pr-message: "This PR has been open for a long time without any pushes or comments! What's up?"
         stale-issue-label: 'no-issue-activity'
         stale-pr-label: 'no-pr-activity'
+        exempt-issue-labels: "Help Wanted,Good First Issue,🗺️ Epic,Stakeholder-Feature"
+        exempt-all-issue-assignees: false
         days-before-issue-close: -1
         days-before-pr-close: 30